The Chinese men's national soccer team was held by Lebanon 0-0
at a warm-up in Zhongshan on Sunday.
China called back four major players from Ratomir Dujkovic's
Olympic side. Defenders Li Weifeng, Sun Xiang and midfielder Du
Zhenyu came on as starters.
The hosts dominated the first half, threatening the visitors on
several occasions.
Li Yan had missed a well-curved 22-meter freekick, before
midfielder Wang Dong fired a half-volley shot to be stopped by
keeper Lary Mehanna.
Captain Li Weifeng had two great chances before the interval,
but his bullet header and close-range shot within two minutes were
denied by a concentrated Mehanna.
China boss Vladimir Petrovic brought on several players and
changed the formation from 4-5-1 to 4-3-3.
Lebanon midfielder Ali El Atat bent a shot to go past a
full-stretched Zong Lei, but the ball finally hit the far post.
Chinese substitute Wang Song saw his efforts denied by Mehanna
in the 80th minute, when the in-form keeper parried his sharp
header following Liu Jian's right flank cross.
China is preparing for the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 South
Africa World Cup. They will play another friendly with Syria on
Jan. 27, before their opening game against newly-crowned Asian Cup
champions Iraq in Dubai on Feb. 6.
(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2008)